Manuel Pellegrini may have been designated a “dead man walking” by some critics, but he never lost the players’ trust.

And that is why, according to Fernandinho, the Manchester City have begun this season in scintillating fashion…that and a few double training sessions.

The Brazilian has arguably been City’s best player in a powerful opening spell, putting in important defensive displays from midfield, linking well with the attacking stars, and even sharing the label of top goalscorer with Vincent Kompany!

And his transformation from a player who looked physically jaded and mentally empty after his World Cup is a reflection of the team’s own revival.

Fernandinho had a difficult World Cup last summer

Fernandinho said that the trust the players have in the “mister” – as many Spanish and Portuguese-speaking players call the manager – is high, and that is crucial.

Pellegrini joked at the weekend that his start to the season had not been bad for a “dead man walking”, a reference to some of the more dramatic media verdicts on his status.

Said Fernandinho: “Having trust in your manager is the most important thing for a footballer.

“You can play…not more relaxed, but able to try things. I feel Manuel has given me that trust and I am playing well.

“I don’t feel any pressure because the manager has given me the trust.

“We had a small meeting before the Watford game, and he asked me a few things and told me exactly what he wanted. If you have the support of your team-mates as well, it makes these things easier, and that is what happened in these first four games.

Fernandinho ranks his defensive work above his goalscoring exploits

“Our team has one style of play – we aim to keep possession and play for 90 minutes with the ball.

“It is impossible to do it for the whole game, but when you have the ball for most of the game, and have players like Samir Nasri, David Silva, Yaya Toure and Raheem Sterling, they keep the ball so well. These players are doing exactly what the manager wants.”

But that kind of pressing game needs supreme physical conditioning, and Fernandinho revealed that the double training sessions so dreaded by players in pre-season training, are still being employed by Pellegrini.

“They want to make full use of the facilities at the CFA!” said the Brazilian with a beaming grin.

City have been having double training sessions

The sessions are paying off, and City are ramming the words of critics who predicted a fourth or even fifth-place finish, back down their throats.

“Some people made a bad decision!” said Fernandinho. “They don’t know what is happening inside the club.

“They don’t see us working hard every single day – we have two sessions some days, and most Premier League teams don’t do that.”